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The RW Takeaway: Designed for marathoners who speed up by increasing their cadence more significantly than their stride length, this super shoe excels for road runners of any gait style, racing any distance from the mile to a 50K.
- New mesh upper isn’t soft or stretchy, but feels locked-in and breathable
- Full-length carbon-fiber plate delivers a very stiff and super springy ride
- In terms of energy return, the MetaSpeed line is top-tier—right behind Nike
Price: $250
Type: Racing
Weight: 7.1 oz (M), 5.8 oz (W)
Drop: 8 mm
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When designing its MetaSpeed line of super shoes, Asics focused on gait mechanics. After experimenting with various shapes and structures of plates and foam, the brand built two versions, each one geared to a specific running style. The Sky+ caters to those who take longer steps as they push the pace—Asics calls them Stride runners. Others speed up by taking more steps, or increasing their strides per minute. That’s me. If it’s you, too, you’re also a Cadence runner. Asics built the Edge+ for runners like us.
Pros
- Fast and stable transitions
- Extremely responsive ride
- Very breathable upper
- Good outsole grip and durability
Cons
- No inner gusset, so tongue can fold over
- Heavier than the MetaSpeed Edge v1
The different designs leverage the slight changes in stride, as to give runners the greatest benefit when they accelerate. Obviously, you’re probably thinking, “I increase both my cadence and stride length whenever I need to sprint.” Asics knows that; the key is knowing how significantly you increase each of those metrics in relationship to each other, which can be tough to figure out. Most of us will probably have a hunch as to which group we fall into. To keep things simple, go with your gut instinct. Regardless of which model you choose, you’ll feel a boost compared to your daily trainers. And, assume that you’d most likely join me on Team Cadence if you regularly stride at over 180spm (steps per minute).
If you want a more formal diagnosis, Asics now offers this online calculator to determine which MetaSpeed is best for your running style. To use it, you’ll have to complete two one-kilometer runs (the first at your 5K race pace, the second at 30 seconds per kilometer slower than 5K race pace) and track your cadence for each. Once you’ve finished, plug in those numbers and click “Calculate” for your shoe recommendation.
I actually compared my stride and cadence at different paces to know definitively whether I was a Stride or Cadence runner. (My Garmin captures that info for each run.) I then compared my plotted points to the graphs that Asics generated from its in-house analyses. I later tried Asics’s online calculator tool, as well, and got the same result. Turns out, I’m a verified cadence kid. So, for my first long-distance race in over four years, I laced up the Edge.
Racing in the Edge
I wore the shoe for the Main Street Half Marathon of Hunterdon, a small race in New Jersey with just under 300 runners. The course is a really fun mix of terrains and elevations: some gravel paths and scenic backcountry lanes, a few steep climbs on weather-beaten roads, and more than a couple long winding descents. Best part? The leaves were changing colors and just beginning to fall, so I was in for 13.1 miles of quality leaf-peeping.
Early in the morning, much of the canopied backroads were covered with those dew-slicked leaves. I had no problem getting solid grip up and down the hills in the Edge. Only a tiny carved-out diamond-shaped rubber patch on the outsole separates this shoe’s outsole from the Sky’s. (Presumably, Cadence runners don’t need as much coverage there since we spend less time on our heels during a gait cycle.) The rubber itself is light, grippy, and surprisingly quiet.
The Edge has more foam underfoot than its predecessor and uses Asics’s most premium nylon-based Flytefoam Turbo, the lightest and springiest the brand currently dishes. However, the Edge still has less of the material than the Sky, with a carbon-fiber plate placed lower inside the midsole. Its full-length plate dips closer to the ground near the forefoot, making it easier for cadence runners to roll quickly into each stride. The aggressive rocker and steep toe spring in the Edge remind me more of Saucony’s Endorphin Pro.
This midsole setup proved just what I needed for Hunterdon’s twisty and hilly course. Compared to the Vaporfly, Endorphin Pro, and the Edge v1, the Edge+’s forefoot and heel are a smidge wider. As a result, transitions feel very stable. And though the ride is exceptionally springy, it remains smooth and predictable; when climbing steep hills, I felt the carbon plate propelling my toe-offs, but it remained nicely controlled from stride to stride. Despite all the changes in road surfaces and elevation—and several hairpin turns through neighborhoods at the finish—the shoe was never too squirrelly.
I also appreciated an unexpected benefit from the steep toe spring: It kept the front of the shoe well out of the way while crossing warped wooden planked bridges. I’m very prone to wipeouts when my legs get tired, and I cleared the set of railroad tracks late in the second half without a stumble.
Full Marathon Capable?
The uppers are made from a translucent airy mesh that Asics calls Motion Wrap. While it doesn’t stretch and looks fragile and sheer, it’s remarkably sturdy—just stiff enough to really lock your foot down on the midsole. That doesn’t sound comfortable, but because it fits like a second skin, there’s minimal movement of your foot inside the shoe. During the race, I appreciated the snug and secure fit on two tight U-turns and the long stretches of country-road shoulders that snaked downhill. Our testers agreed. “Even when hitting hard turns on the track, rounding corners, or stopping on a dime, I never felt as if I were slipping inside the shoe,” one said.
However, the upper is the area that makes me prefer the Edge for a half, rather than a full, marathon. On my wider foot, I didn’t experience any blisters or rubbing. Only one small hot spot formed around the toebox, which dissipated as I broke in the upper. But my right toes went numb during the final quarter of the half marathon. My feet swell a decent amount when I run, and the racer fit and stiff mesh didn’t accommodate my puffy digits for those final miles. Another tester had a similar experience, noting that he felt some rubbing on the outsides of his pinky toes beyond seven miles.
While that tester and myself won’t take the Edge for a full 26.2 any time soon, the shoe is undoubtedly capable. “The cushioning felt bouncy and fast with a feel of your legs floating. Compared to the Vaporfly, it also has a little more ‘sharpness’ for the quick sprint at the end,” said one tester who recently ran in the Next%. Our editors and wear-test team think the MetaSpeeds are among the fastest super shoes you can buy right now.
Another Tester’s Take
Craig W. | Tester since 2021
Arch: Medium | Pronation: Neutral | Footstrike: Midfoot
“Often racing shoes feel at home during speedwork, however, they do not slow down well. Fast or slow, this shoe combines the comfort of a trainer with the additional pop of a racing shoe. Nike may be the common shoe at the front of the pack on race day, but this shoe has a home there as well. When I ran in the Vaporfly Next% 2, the bounce of the forefoot created an uncomfortable cadence that made me feel off. My normal running style translated better in the Asics. My pace per mile was instantly faster compared to running in my training shoes while exerting the same effort. I especially liked the Edge’s unique, almost serrated laces that locked securely in place.”
